Abstract: A speech coding system and associated method relies on a speech encoder (15) and a speech decoder (20). The speech encoder (15) includes a voicing cut off frequency analyzer (60). Voicing cut off frequency analyzer (60) includes voicing cut off frequency estimator (61) and voicing cut off frequency quantizer (62). Voicing cut off frequency estimator (61) estimates a voicing cut off frequency value for respective samples of an input speech waveform (1). To accomplish this, voicing cut off frequency estimator (61) utilizes a bandpass filter to estimate a frequency above which a sample of speech is voiced and below which the sample of speech is unvoiced. Voicing cut off frequency quantizer (62) quantizes the estimated voicing cut off frequency value and provides, for respective samples, a voicing cut off frequency index signal (6) which may be stored or transmitted. Voicing cut off frequency index signal (6) may comprise as few as 1 bit, and in a preferred embodiment, as few as 3 bits.

Abstract: A speech coding system (10) and associated method relies on a speech encoder (15) and a speech decoder (20). The speech decoder (20) includes a harmonic generator (70) which modulates the phase of each generated harmonic with a low frequency, low bandwidth signal to remove the buzzy quality of the speech and to produce natural sounding speech. The amplitude of the phase modulating signal is adjusted in accordance with the harmonic magnitude. For harmonics residing in a spectral valley the amplitude of the modulating signal is relatively large and for harmonics residing near spectral peaks, the amplitude of the modulation signal is relatively small.

Abstract: A sealing system for repairing an aperture or notch of a damaged plastic pipe. The sealing system comprises a patch member and an attachment tool. The patch member includes a top side, a bottom side, and comprises, in part, a thermoplastic material. The attachment tool includes a housing, a power source associated with the housing, a base member, attachment members for attaching the base member to the patch member, and members which facilitate positioning to the power source relative to the housing. The invention further includes a method of repairing an aperture or notch of a damaged plastic pipe.

Abstract: The number of simultaneous equations needed to find the location solution of an asset being tracked, such as a railcar, or, in the alternative, to improve the localization accuracy of any of several positioning methods used to track assets, is reduced by using a railway track database. Known railway track locations are used to constrain the railcar (i.e., asset) location solutions. This constraint makes the Cartesian coordinate location x, y and z values interdependent and reduces the number of simultaneous equations needed to find the location solution. Since all relevant railcars must be supported on railway tracks, and railway track locations and elevations throughout North America are available in a database, the number of satellite signals required is reduced. The railway track database represents a complex set of railway tracks.

Abstract: An object detection system including passive sensors for receiving electromagnetic radiation from a moving object and generating intensity signals representative of the received radiation, and a processing system for subtracting the intensity signals to obtain a differential signature representative of the position of the moving object. An image acquisition system including at least one camera for acquiring an image of at least part of a moving object, in response to a trigger signal, and an analysis system for processing the image to locate a region in the image including markings identifying the object and processing the region to extract the markings for optical recognition.

Abstract: In a time division multiple access spacecraft communication system, each ground station determines when to send its information packets to arrive at the spacecraft at the beginning of a time slot. The calculation is based upon knowledge of the location of the spacecraft. A master ground station determines the location of the spacecraft by the use of the propagation delays between the various ground stations (including itself) and the spacecraft, together with knowledge of the locations of the ground stations. The spacecraft location is then transmitted back to the various ground stations. The determination of propagation delay by each ground station is performed in two major steps. The first step determines coarse time delay to within one bit interval by repeatedly transmitting a multibit unique word to the spacecraft, and counting bits until the next unique word is received from the spacecraft.

Abstract: A data transfer method with peripheral precharge wherein a starting portion of an output data block targeted for a peripheral is transferred to an output buffer for the peripheral using programmed I/O or slave cycles and wherein a virtual address of the output data block is translated into a physical address while the peripheral begins transferring the starting portion from the output buffer and over an output path. A direct memory access operation by the peripheral transfers a remainder portion of the output data block into the output buffer.

Abstract: An object monitoring system includes a camera node (2) for monitoring movement of an object (18) to determine an acquisition time when an image of the object (18) is to be acquired and acquiring the image at the predetermined time. The system includes a camera (6) which is able to monitor moving objects (18), and image processing circuitry (10), responsive to the camera (6), which is able to detect a predetermined moving object (18) from other moving and static objects. From the image acquired, information identifying the object (18) can be automatically extracted. The system is particularly suited to monitoring and discriminating large vehicles (18) from other vehicles over a multi-lane roadway, and acquiring high resolution images of the large vehicles (18) at a predetermined acquisition point (22).

Abstract: Location of an object to be tracked is determined by measuring, at a receiver situated at the object, the propagation time differences between the signals from a plurality of GPS satellites, each of which is received by the receiver situated at the object. The measured propagation time difference values are transmitted to a central station where the location of the object to be tracked is calculated based upon the propagation time differences of the signals transmitted from the satellites and data derived from a receiver apart from the object but also receiving signals from the satellites.

Abstract: A method of tracking railcars in transit using global positioning techniques involves determining the location of a railcar by using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and a satellite transceiver on board the locomotive, and a local area network of railcar tracking units. Instead of computing the GPS solution independently and transmitting it to a central station, the railcar tracking units transmit their unique identifications (IDs) to one of the tracking units in the local area network acting as an administrator tracking unit. The administrator tracking unit maintains a list of IDs and periodically transmits the list of IDs to the locomotive. The locomotive locates itself using the GPS system and periodically transmits its position and velocity to the central station.

Abstract: A combination patient transporter and chair, comprising a base frame extending in a horizontal plane and having a front and rear portion. Wheels are mounted on the base, and a vertically adjustable first post is rigidly connected to the base frame, spaced from the rear portion and near the front portion. The first post includes mounting means spaced vertically from the base frame. A removable chair is provided having a backrest. The mounting means includes cantilevered connecting members mounting the chair in a cantilevered manner from the first post towards and over the rear portion. A vertically adjustable footrest means is provided over the base and is adjustable between an upper position and a lower position. A table platform is spaced forwardly and above the chair.

Abstract: A child car restraint comprising a one-piece device having a lower shell area adapted to cover the lap of a seated child and an upper shell area adapted to cover the torso of a seated child. The two areas are joined together in the hip area of a seated child. The device is constructed to have a seat lap belt pass over the device where the areas are joined to hold the device against a seated child. A brace extends between the areas to prevent them from moving any great distance toward each other about their joined area.